Propeller type drive



vJuly 25, 1944. cf A, L E BERT 2,354,465

PROPELLER TYPE DRIVE Filed April 21, 1945 .alim/M4435 Patented lJuly 25, 1944 PaorELLEa ma parve Charles A. Le Bert, Evangeline, La., assigner of one-half to Carroll V. Badke, Jennings, La..

Application April 21, 1943, Serial No. 483,935

This invention relates to 'a propeller type drive for boats and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of the stated character which will provide several propelling speeds forwardly and revcrsely and Aprovide a neutral position through the use of a propeller wherein the pitch of the blades thereof may be varied and an operating means for varying the pitch of the blades at the will of the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above stated character which may be easily installed in a boat and its construction is such, that the control may be located within the boat within convenient reach of the operator and the connection thereof with the blades of the propeller be enclosed within the propeller shaft and protected thereby. Also the construction will prevent water from entering the boat through shaft. Y t

With these and other objects in View as will become more apparent as the description proceeds. the invention consists in certain novel and about the propeller features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understandingl of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a propeller type drive for a boat.

Figure 2-is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a portion of the propeller shaft and showing the mounting of the propeller blades thereon. y

Figure 3 is affragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a portion of the operating 1 clams` (ci. 11s- 34) external threads on which a hollow hub I0 of a propeller il is threaded. A suitable lock nut I2 threads on the propeller shaft 8 against the threaded neck of the hub I0. The hub I0 is provided with oppositely arranged tubular bearings I3 in the form of sleeves securedto the h-ub in such a way as to exclude water from the in- Aterior of the hub. `The bearings I3 extend exv teriorly of the hub to receive shanks I4 lof proing into the propeller shaft and which carriesat its innermost end a key or pin 20 which extends through slots 2I provided in the propeller Shaft 8.

means for varying the pitch of the blades of the propeller.

Figure 4 is a. fragmentary sectional view illustrating the propeller hub and the connection of the propeller bladeswith a control shaft.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral [indicates a fragmentary portion of a boat, 6 the propeller shaft bearing which permits the propeller shaft to extend through the keel of the boat and is of the type to prevent leakage between the keel and the propeller shaft. The bearing 6 includes in its construction a stufng gland 'I which may be adjusted and repacked from-the interior of the boat.

A tubular propeller shaft 8 is journaled inthe bearing 5 and isaiso supported by a thrust type bearing 9 mounted within the boat. The outer end of the propeller shaft is provided with Surrounding the propeller shaft and the slots 2I thereof is a housing 22. The housing has a sliding fit with the propeller shaft 6 and rests against a block 23 fixed in the boat so that the housing will .not rotate with the propeller shaft. The key or pin 20 has fixed to its ends bearing heads or elements 24 which bear Aagainst discs 25 arranged within the housing and surrounding.

the propeller shaft. The discs 25 act to take wear and provide bearing connection between the elements 24 and the housing, permitting the key to rotate with the propeller ,shaft while the housing ls non-rotatable. Ears 26 are formed on opposite sides of the housing and have pivoted thereto links 21. The links are pivotally connected to a fork portion 23 of a control lever 29 and low speeds in a forward direction and the adjustment of the control lever in an opposite direction beyond a neutral position will vary the pitch of the blade so as to give a reverse driving action to the boat at several speeds.

As the water is -excluded from the interior of the hub secured on the end of the tubular propeller shaft 6, it will not be possible for the water to work its way into the boat by way of the propeller shaft and it will be seen that the operating shaft and its connection with the propeller blades is entirely confined within the propeller shaft. permitting the installation of the device tothe boat to be easily carried out and that the operating shaft and connecting links with the propeller blades are entirely protected by the propropeller including a hollow hub detachably secured to said shaft and blades'journaled in said hub to permit the pitch thereof to be varied, an operating means located in the boat, an operating shaft lying within the propeller shaft and hub, links connecting'said operating shaft with the blades, said propeller shaft having slots, a pin secured to the operating shaft and yextending through the slots, a housing slidable on the propeller shaft over the slots, bearing elements secured to the pin, wear plates between the housing and the bearing elements, a bearing block engaged by the housing and secured to the boat for retaining the housing against rotation with the propeller shaft and permitting the housing to slide relative to the propeller shaft, and means connecting the housing to the operating means.

' CHARLES A. LE BERT. 

